A tribute was paid at Wednesday night’s Shamrock Rovers v Liverpool game for the Dubliner who was also a passionate Liverpool supporter.

Friends have described Pierce as “a great guy” in an outpouring of grief on social network sites.

Pierce, a student at Castleknock College in Dublin, was studying for his Junior Certificate exams next month.

He played rugby at the secondary school and was also a keen GAA enthusiast. His family are heavily involved in St Brigid’s GAA club in Castleknock.

Pierce died suddenly on Tuesday evening of a suspected bleed of the brain.

His mother Susan told independent.ie: "We are utterly, utterly overwhelmed by the tremendous outpouring of support we've received."

"The support and everything we've received from the community, neighbours, family, friends - it's just been absolutely incredible."

"I want to express our gratitude to everyone," Ms King added.

Mourners poured into the family home yesterday to express their sympathies to the family, with a queue spilling out onto the street.

The community is said to be "shocked" because Pierce was a normal, healthy teenager.

A special tribute was last night posted on the St Brigid’s GAA Club website recognising Pierce’s commitment to the club and wonderful spirit.

“Pierce was a great character and supporter of the club and will be dearly missed by all his friends in St Brigids and Caslteknock College,” the statement read.

“It is a truly great loss for a family so active in the club. We are in mourning at the loss and can only imagine the depth of loss that his beloved family must be feeling - our thoughts are with them at this sad, sad time. Please pray for them all.”

Another tribute was posted on the Castleknock College website.

Among those who took to Twitter to pay their respect was broadcaster Laura Whitmore who tweeted: “Thoughts with the classmates, friends and family of Pierce Moran x.”

Another friend wrote: Tell the closest to you that you love them, Pierce's friends didn't even get to say goodbye, bare no grudges.

He will be removed to the Church of Our Lady Mother of the Church, Castleknock, on Saturday morning with Requiem Mass at 12.30pm followed by cremation in Glasnevin Crematorium.